Auchentoshan 1966, 31-year-old, Individual Cask Bottling (Cask # 800) / 44.5%/ 0.75l

Auchentoshan is the only Scottish distillery whose entire production is triple distilled. The distillery has been operating since 1823 and since 1984 has been owned by Morrison Bowmore Distillers, which in turn is part of the Beam Suntory group.

In the late 1990s Morrison Bowmore launched a small Official Distillery Archive series, including several single cask Auchentoshans. The one presented here comes from a hogshead cask no. 800 filled on 14th March 1966, when the distillery was owned by J.& R. Tennant Brewers, and bottled at natural strength (44.5%) after 31 years. It is an example of a superbly aged and un-cask-tired single malt from the Lowlands.

Aroma : perfectly balanced, apricots, plums, gooseberries, delicate scents of a spring meadow, vanilla, honey, walnuts, cedar wood and a trace of mint.

Taste : a beautiful combination of honey, vanilla cream and citrus; lemon tart, apricots, milk chocolate, a pinch of pepper and ginger and a subtle bitterness of oak.

Finish: long and soothing, with elements of the flavor palette in perfect harmony.